Non-lethal weapon injuries in the context of civilian trauma

Abstract text (incl. references and figure legends)

Introduction:

Non-lethal weapons (NLW) are designed to generate painful and superficial injuries. Recently in Colombia their use has increased in the civilian population. The associated injuries that NLW produce can confuse the surgeon who initially addresses them as gunshot wounds.

Patients and methods:

We described the case of patients who arrived at the emergency department with NLW injuries from 2021-2022. We recorded variables such as demographic characteristics, injury severity scores, vital signs at arrival, surgical procedures, and outcomes such as mortality and length of stay. Patients in whom mechanism of injury was not clear were excluded.

Results:

We included 26 patients with NLW injury. The median (IQR) age was of 29(25-37) and 92.31% were males. 18 (69.23%) of the patients presented a subcutaneous trajectory of the projectile, with a blunt-like/cinematic mechanism of injury. The most injured region was the neck (38.46%) with a median (IQR) AIS head and neck of 1(0-2). The median (IQR) of ISS and NISS was 5 (2-10) and 7.5 (2-17) respectively. Surgical treatment was required in 13 (52%) of the patients and the most common procedures were ophthalmologic and maxillofacial surgery. None of the patients died. Median (IQR) hospital length of stay was 2 (1-5) days and only 5 patients required ICU admission.

Conclusion:

NLW projectiles used by the civilian population have a different injury pattern. This might lead to confusion when managing these patients. As one injury can seem to be superficial and cause injury in internal structures, others may seem to be deep and devastating, with the sole compromise of the subcutaneous layer.

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